The United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA), is Pulling its Inspectors Out-of-Iran over Safety Concerns, Severing the Link between the Agency and Tehran, which earlier this Week Suspended Cooperation with the International Monitor. The IAEA Team of Inspectors were Driven by Road out of Iran on Friday, despite International Departures from Iran’s Main Airports resuming Normal Operations, in the Wake of a 12-day Conflict with Israel.
The Inspectors have been housed in Tehran, unable to Visit Iran’s Nuclear Sites since Israel Attacked the Country on June 13th. They were Housed at a Hotel in the Capital, but may have later moved to a U.N. Location. Iran has Ratcheted-Up years-old Rhetoric against the Agency since then, and there have been Death Threats against IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi from Lawmakers and Regime-tied Media. The IAEA later Confirmed the Inspectors’ Departure. In a Tweet on X, the Agency said Grossi “reiterated the crucial importance of the IAEA discussing with Iran modalities for resuming its indispensable monitoring and verification Activities in Iran as soon as possible.”
Their Departure makes the Prospect of any Significant International access to Iran’s Nuclear Sites extremely unlikely, allowing it to carry out Nuclear Work Unchecked. Iran’s Activities are, however, being watched Closely by Western and Israeli Intelligence Agencies, and the IAEA has Access to Satellite Imagery of its Sites. It also raises the Prospect of a Standoff over Iran’s Participation in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Bans it from Nuclear Weapons and Requires Regular Inspections of its Atomic Program.
For Decades, Iran has been Subject to Rigorous Inspections of its core Nuclear Sites. Inspectors would Visit its Enrichment Sites and Check its Stockpile of Enriched Uranium every couple of days, Ensuring that Iran wasn’t Diverting Fissile Material for a Nuclear Weapon. Iran has always said its Nuclear work is for purely Peaceful purposes. President Trump (R) said Thursday, that Iran wants to Meet to Resume Nuclear talks. There has been No Confirmation of that by Tehran.
Tensions between Iran and the Agency had been simmering for years, as Iran became the Only Non-Nuclear-Weapons State to produce 60% Highly Enriched Uranium and Tehran Stonewalled a Six-year Probe into the Presence of Undeclared Nuclear Material in the Country. For Two years now, the IAEA has said it can’t be sure that Iran’s Nuclear Work is for purely Peaceful purposes.
Earlier this week, in the face of International Pressure, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Implemented a New Law from Iran’s Parliament Suspending Co-Operation with the Agency. That move meant the IAEA would be Blind to Iran’s Nuclear Work and the State of its Nuclear Facilities, following Israeli and U.S. Attacks last month, on the Country’s Main Sites. Trump says the Attacks on Iran Obliterated Iran’s Nuclear Program. A Pentagon Official said the Strikes had set Iran’s Program back by up to Two years.
Washington condemned this week’s Iranian decision as “Unacceptable”, while European Countries called on Tehran to Reverse it, saying that Ending Oversight of Iran’s Nuclear Program would make a Diplomatic Solution to the Nuclear Crisis Harder to Reach. Any Nuclear Agreement would require a Baseline understanding of Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure and its Enriched Uranium Stockpile.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday, that Iran remains Committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, Iranian Officials have previously said they could Leave it, if the Country was Attacked, and there has been a Chorus of Officials in recent weeks questioning the Value of Staying in the Treaty. The Departure of Inspectors could Escalate the Standoff. Tehran is Obliged to accept Inspections under the NPT. Its Refusal to Co-Operate with the Agency would likely Spark Action by the IAEA Board of Member States, Grossi has said, which could place the Issue before the U.N. Security Council for a Response. Iran has in the Past reacted Strongly to such Pressure, further Slashing Oversight of its Program.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called His U.S. and Russian Counterparts to discuss the Situation in recent days. After Tuesday’s Call with President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said Iran’s continued Co-Operation with the Agency was Crucial. Israel is pushing European Countries to Exercise their Option to Reimpose All International Sanctions lifted by the 2015 Nuclear Deal in response to Iran’s Suspension of work with the Inspectors. Trump pulled the U.S. Out of that Deal during His First Term.
The Agency has said Iran in the past, Harassed Inspectors in the Country and Accused Tehran of taking Confidential Internal Reports from it. The Agency at the End-of-May circulated a Report Ordered-Up by European Powers detailing Iran’s Failure to Answer Questions about the Presence of Undeclared Nuclear Material in Iran. It set out a Pattern of Iran giving Contradictory Responses to the Agency, which the IAEA said weren’t Credible. Following the Report, Iran was Declared Noncompliant with the IAEA by the Agency’s Board
The following day, Israel launched its Attacks on Iran. Tehran has said Grossi’s Actions set the Stage for the Israeli Attack and said He has Failed to Condemn the U.S. and Israeli Attacks. Iranian Officials have Resurfaced Longstanding Claims, Dismissed by the IAEA, that the Agency has given Israel Information to Help Hunt down Iranian Nuclear Scientists.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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